Fence making machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. DIAL.

FENGE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 573,815. Patented Dec. 22, 1896 46' I J i THE uonms owns co.vummwma. wASHmG'rrN, ac,

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 573,815. Patented Dec. 22', 1896.

m: NORRIS wzrzns co, PHOTO-UTHCL, vusums'row, n. cy

(No Model.) 5 8heetsShe.et 3.

R DIAL FENCE MAKING MAGHINB.

Patented De0. 22,1 896.

iizvenfof ,fime

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

R. DIAL. FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 573,815. Patented Dec. 22, 1896.

iIlHM lINiINHINIIIII X Wiinesses 5 Sheets-Sheet 5'.

(No Model.)

B. DIAL.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

Patented Dec 22, 1896.

no: humus run; :0 mYO-Lflna. msamamu. c. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT DIAL, OF CHELSEA, INDIAN TERRITORY.

FENCE-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573.815, dated December22, 1896..

Application filed September 22, 1896. Serial No. 606,626. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, ROBERT DIAL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chelsea, in the county of Cherokee, Indian Territory, haveinvented, certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Machines; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to machines for making wire fabrics, and moreespecially to that class designed for weaving wire fences; and itsnovelty and many advantages will be fully understood from the followingdescription and claims when taken in conjunction with the annexeddrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machineas it appears in operation with some of the parts broken away and otherparts omitted. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine,taken in the plane inside one of the rear traveling wheels andillustrating the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isatransverse section taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line a; ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated bythe dotted line '31 y of Fig 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectiontaken in the plane indicated by the line 10 of Fig. 4. Fig. (i is adetail sectional view illustrating a portion of the mechanism for movingthe twisting wire from one runner to another. Fig. 7 is a sectionalperspective view illustrating a portion of the mechanism through themedium of which the twisters are rotated. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailbroken perspective illustrating a portion of the frame and therunner-wire guide and shaftof one of the twisters, and Fig. 9 is aperspective view illustrating the spool-carriers of a twister.

In the said drawings similar numerals des ignate corresponding parts inall of the several views, referring to which- 1 indicates the main frameof my improved machine, which in the present embodiment of the inventionis supported by the front Wheels 2, arranged on an axle 3, pivotallyconnected with the body, and the rear traction-wheels 4, fixed on ashaft 5, journaled in suitable bearings in the main frame, as shown. 7

The machine is designed to be drawn by draft-animals or by atraction-engine, and power is taken from the shaft 5 to drive themechanism, as will be presently described.

The main frame 1 may be of any form and construction suitable to thepurposes of my invention, but is preferably of a rectangular form, asshown. Said frame is provided at its forward end with an uprightspool-rack 5, which preferably comprises the upright bar 6, havingjournaled apertures 7 at intervals in its length, and the upright bar8,.

having inclined notches 9 at intervals in its length, and it is designedto receive the spindles of the spools 10, which carry the runnerwires 11and have their spindles on shafts arranged in the apertures 7 andnotches 9 of the upright bars 6 and S, as shown.

lVhen desirable, two or more spool-racks may be provided upon the frame1, the said racks being arranged one in front of the other and beingdesigned for use one after the other, that is to say, after therunner-Wires are run' off the spools of one rack the said wires may beconnected with the wires on the spools of the next succeeding rack untilthe supply of wire on the spools of all the racks is exhausted, when itis necessary, of course, to remove the empty spools from the racks andreplace the same with full spools and properly connect the wires beforethe operation of weaving the wire or building the fence can be resumed.

12 indicates upright guides, which are arranged in the longitudinalcenter of the frame 1 in' rear of the spool-rack 5, and are providedwith four (more or less) vertical grooves or guideways 13, as shown, forthe reception of the vertically-movable slides 14. (Better illustratedin Fig. 5 of the drawings.) There are two of such slides 14 employed,and while they maybe of any construction suitable to the purposes of myinvention I prefer to have them respecti ely comprise the upright bars15, which are recessed in their inner sides at intervals in their lengthto form bearing portions 16, and the cross-bars 17, which connect thesaid upright bars and have their ends arranged in the ways or grooves 13ofthe upright guides 12, as shown. In the bearing portions 16 of thebars are arranged and journaled the semicircular ends of thespoolcarriers 18 of the wire-twisters 19. These spool-carriers 18 areflat at their inner sides and have the semicircular portions 20 at theirends, and they are also provided at their ends with bearings 21 toreceive the bobbins 22, upon which the wrapping-wire 23 is wound, andwith the apertures 24 for the passage of the wrapping-wire from thebobbins or spools.

25 indicates what may properly be termed the shafts of the twisters,since they trans- .mit rotary motion of the same. These shafts 25 eachhave the flattened portion 26, which is designed torest between twospool-carriers 18, and the tubular portion 27, which is journaled in theforward upright 12 and also in an auxiliary forward upright 28, and isprovided with a pinion 29, as shown. The flattened portion 26 of theshaft25 is provided with the large transversely-disposed aperture 30 topermit of the wire 23 being wrapped around therunner-Wire, as shown inFig. 5, and thelongitudinally-disposed aperture 31, which restsinalinement with the tubular portion 27 and designed like said tubularportion for the passage of a. runner-wire.

32 indicates an upright which is connected toand risesfrom the frame 1at one side thereof and preferably at a point slightly in ad.- vance ofthe upright guides 12, as better shown in. Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of thedrawings. Arranged in suitable guides in this upright 32 is avertically-movable rack-bar 33, which is connected by arms 34 orotherwise with a rack bar 35 which is designed and adapted to engage thepinions 29 of the twisters, as better shown in Fig. 3. Also arranged insuitable guides in the upright, 32 (see Fig. 2) is a vertically-movablerack-bar 36, and between this rack-bar 36 and the rackbar35 is an idlerpinion 37 ,which meshes with the teeth of both, as shown, and for. apurpose presently described. The upright, 32 is provided,.as bettershowninFig, 1,witl 1,vertical transverselydisposed slots. 33, andinthese slots are arranged and adapted towmove lugs 39 and 40, which areconnected to the rack-bars 33 and 36, respectively. These lugs 39 and 40are designed for the engagement of an arm 41, which is pivotallyconnected at its lower end toa.vertically-movable plunger 42 and at itsupperend straddles saidplunger, so as to permit of its beingswung firstto one side to engage one ofv the lugs and. then to the other side toengage the other lug. The-arm 41 is moved'firstto one side and then tothey other. by the cam-levers 4344, which are fulcruined at intermediatepoints of their length on the uprights 32, and. are adapted at theirupper ends tobe engagedby the lugs 39 40, respectively, andareprovidedat their lower ends with adjustably-connected portions 45,designed to engage opposite sides of the arm 41, for a purpose presentlydescribed.

The plunger 42 is reciprocated by-the driveshaft 5 through the medium ofthe gear-wheel 46 on said shaft, the pinion 47, which meshes with saidgear-wheel, the crank-arm 48 on the same shaft as the pinion, and thepit-man 49, connected at one end to the crank-arm and at its oppositeend to the plunger 42, as illustrated. In Fig. 1 of the drawings theplunger 42 is shown at its lowermost position with the arm 41 in aposit-ion to engage the lug 40 of the rack-bar 36. Now when the plunger42 is moved upwardly the arm 41, engaging the lug 40, will raise therack-bar 36, rotate the pinion 37 in the direction indicated by arrow,(see Fig. 2,) and move the rack-bar 33 and the rack-bar 35 downwardly,and consequently rotate the pinions 29 and the wiretwisters 25 in thedirection indicated by arrow in Fig. 3. \Vhen the lug 40 is movedupwardly,

it engages the upper portion. of the cam-lever 44 and presses saidupper-portion outwardly, and consequently presses andholds theinnerportion of said lever inwardly. In oonse-a quence ofthis it will beseenthat when, the plunger and the arm 41 are moved down.- wardly the saidarm 41 will be engaged by the lower end of the lever 44and move so thaton the next succeeding upward stroke of the plunger it will engage-thelug 39 of theme]:-

bar 33. Vith the parts in this position, when outwardly, and,consequently press-and hold the lower end inwardly, so that when theplunger is moved downwardly the upper end of the arm 41 will be engagedby the said lower end of the cam-lever 43 and will be moved so that on.the next succeeding up ward stroke of the plunger it will again-en:

gage the lug 40.

It will be observed that wheat-he rack-bar 33 is moved upwardly therack-bar 35 will also be moved upwardly and the twisters 25. rotated ina direction opposite. to that, indi cated by arrow in Fig. 3, and itwill also be seen that when the rack-bar-36 is movedupwardly therack-bar 35 will be moveddown.

wardly and the twisters 25 will be rotated in the direction indicatedbyv arrow in Fig. 3.

It will further be observedthat during'thev downward strokesoftheplunger 42.and,arm

41 the rack-bars 33 36, the pinion 37, the rackbar 35, and the twisterswill. remain idle, for a purpose presently to be described.

50, indicatesa walkingbeam which is ful-:

crumed between the upperv ends of the lip-- rights .12 and has itsopposite ends connected to the pitmen 51, which are connected to thevertically-movable slides 14., and 52 indicates an upright which isconnected to and rises from one side of the main frame 1 and is arrangedat one side of the uprights 12, as shown. Arranged in suitable guides inthis upright 52 is a vertically-movable rack-bar 53, which has a lug 53extending through a vertical slot 54 in the upright, and which bar 53 isconnected by a pitman 55 with one of the pitmen 51, and also arranged insuitable guides in said upright 52 is a vertically-movable rack-bar 56,which also has a lug 57 extending through a vertical slot 58 in theupright, as shown. A pinion 59 is arranged between and in mesh with therack-bars 53 and 56, and consequently it will be seen that when.

one of the said bars is moved upwardly the other will be moveddownwardly.

60 indicates a vertical plunger arranged in suitable guides on theupright 52. 61 indicates an arm pivotally connected to the plunger 60and adapted at its upper end to engage the lugs 53 57 alternately, and62 63 indicate levers similar to the levers 13 5L4 before described,which are designed to operate in a manner similar to said levers 43 44to move the arm 61 to a position so'that it will engage the lug of oneof the rack-bars after it has engaged the lug of and raised the otherrack-bar and returned to its lowermost position. Motion is transmittedfrom the shaft 64, which carries the pinion 4'7 and the crank &8, to theplunger 60 through the medium of the crank-arm 65 on said shaft and thepitman 06, which is connected to said crank-arm and plunger, as bettershown in Fig. 2. By reason of the constructionjust described it will beobserved that when the plunger 60 is moved upwardly with the arm (51 inengagement with the lug 53 of the rackbar 53 said rack-bar will beraised, the walking-beam 50 will be rocked in the direction indicated byarrow in Fig. 4, and one of the slides 14 will be raised and the otherlowered, and when the said plunger 60 is moved upwardly with the arm 61in engagement with the lug 57 of the rack-bar 56 said rack-bar 56 willbe moved upwardly, the walking-beam 50 will be rocked in the directionopposite to that indicated by arrow in Fig. 4, and the slides 11 will bemoved in directions opposite to their former movements. When the plunger60 is moved downwardly, the rack-bars 53 56, the plunger 50, and theslides 1a will remain idle, for a purpose presently described.

In the practical operation of the machine the runner-wires are carriedfrom the spools 10 through the tubular portions 27, and apertures 31 ofthe twister-shafts 25, and are connected to a fixed post or othersupport. The

machine is then started forward, when it will be seen that the twisterswill be rotated and the slides 14 will be reciprocated in oppositedirections through the medium of the mechanism before described. Themovements of the parts are so timed that while the plunger 60 is movingdownwardly and the slides 14 are idle the twisters will be rotated inone direction to twist the wire 23 around the runner-wires 11, as bettershown in Fig. 1. Atthe conclusion of the upward movement of the plunger42, through the medium of which the twisters are rotated, and while saidplunger 42 is moving downwardly the plunger 60 is moved upwardly, andthrough the medium of the mechanism described one of the slides 14 ismoved up and the other down. The movement of the parts is also so timedthat this movement of the slides 14: will take place while the flattenedportions 26 of the twistershafts 25 are idle and vertically disposed, asshown in Fig. 4, and consequently it will be seen that such movements ofthe slides will move those twister-sections 18 which are in one slide upand those which are in the other slide down.

In the present embodiment of the invention the slides 1 1 are shown asprovided, respectively,with ten semicircular portions 16, which serve inconjunction to form ten circular bearings for the twisters. There are,however, but five pairs of twister-sections l8 employed, and they arearranged as better shown in Fig. -1 of the drawings. seen that, with theparts in the position shown in Fig. 4, when one slide (the left slide,for instance) is moved up and the other slide down the twister-sections18 of the left-hand slide will be moved upwardly such a distance thatthe twister-sections will rest alongside the shafts 25 above the shaftsalongside of which they are shown in Fig. 4, while the twister-sectionsof the right-hand slide will rest alongside the shafts 25 below theshafts alongside of which they are shown in Fig. at.

This transfer or movement of the twister-sections 18 will carry thewrapping-wires 23 from one runner-wire 11 to another to form meshes, asshown in Fig. 1, each twister-section 18 serving to wrap the wire 23around two runner-wires 11 alternately. At the completion of themovements of the slides 14, as described, the twisters will be rotated,through the medium of the mechanism described, in a direction oppositeto the direction of the first rotary movement to twist the wires 23around the runner-wires. The slides 14 Will be then returned to theposition shown in Fig. 4:, and the operation is repeated until theentire fence or fabric is completed.

\Vhen my improved machine is tobe used for forming a fabric for fencepurposes, the traveling wheels may be omitted and anysuitable motor maybe employed to rotate the shaft 64.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a machine formaking wire fabric, the

combination of a main frame, a drive-shaft journaled therein,reciprocatory slides having bearings, shafts journaled in the frame andConsequently it will be having the tubular portions and the flattenedand apertured portions arranged between the slides,spool-carriersarranged in the bearings of the-slides and adapted inconjunction with the shafts to form wire-twisters, mechanismintermediate of thedrive-shaft and thetwistersfor rotatingsaid'twisters, and mechanism intermediate of the drive-shaft and theslides for reciprocating said slides, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a machine for making wire fabric, the

combination of a main frame, a drive-shaft journaledtherein,reciprocatory slides arranged side by side and having semicircularbearing portions in their inner sides, shafts journaled in theframe andhavingthe tubu lar portions and the fiattened and apertured portionsarranged between the slides, the spool-carriers arranged on oppositesides of the flattened portions and serving in conjunction with the sameto form twisters on the shafts and having the semicircular end portionsarranged in the bearing portions of the slides and also having aperturesfor the passageof twisting wire, the spools journaled in said carriers;mechanism intermediate ofthe drive-shaft and the shafts of the twistersfor rotating thelatter, and mechanism intermediate of the drive-shaftand the slides for movingsaidslid'es simultaneously inoppositedirections, the said mechanisms each having a lost motion and being sotimed that the' twisters will be rotated while'the slides are idle andthe slides will be moved while the twiste'rs are at rest, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

' 3. In amachinefor makingawire fabric,the combination of slides-havingbearings, rotary shafts arranged-between the slides and adapted for thepassageof wires and having pinions, spool-carriers arranged in thebearings of the slides and adapted to move therewith in planes-onopposite sides of the plane of the shafts, a walking-beam,. pitmenconnecting the opposite ends of said beam and the slides, a rack-barengaging the pinions of the shafts, and means for rocking thewalking-beam and moving the rack-bar, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

at. In a machine for making wire fabric, the combination of slideshaving bearings, rotary shafts arranged between the slidesan d adaptedfor the passage of wires and having pinions, spool-carriers arranged inthe bearings of the slides and adapted to move therewith in planes onopposite sidesof the plane of the shafts, a walking-beam, pitmenconnecting theopposite ends of said beam and the slides, a rack-barengaging the pinions of the shaft,

a drive-shaft, rack-bars connected by an interposed idler-gear andhaving lugs, a connection between one of said rack-bars and thewalking-beam, a plunger having aswing- 'ing arm adapted to alternatelyengage the lugs of the rack-bars, cam-levers for moving said" arm, aconnection between the drive shaft and the plunger for reciprocatingsaid plunger, a second pair of rack-bars connected by an interposedidler-gear and having lugs, a connection between one of said rack-barsand the rack-bar which engages the pinions of the twister shafts, aplunger havin g a swing]- ing arm adapted to alternately engage thelugs-of the rack-bars, cam-levers for moving said arm, and a connectionbetween the driveshaft and the second plunger for reciprocat ing saidplunger, the parts being so timed that when the plunger connected withthe walking-beam is moved in one direction the other plunger connectedwith the rack-bar en gaging the pinions of the twister-shafts will bemoved in the opposite direction, substan tially as and for the purposeset forth.

5. In a machine for building wire fences, the combination of a frame, ashaft having traction-wheels at its ends and journaled in the frame, adrive-shaft connected'by gearing by an interposed idler-gear and havinglugs,

a connection between one of the said-rack bam and the'walking-beam, aplunger having a swinging arm adapted to alternately engage the lugs ofthe rack-bars, cam-levers for mov-' ing said arm,a pitman connected atoneend to one crank-arm of the drive-shaft and at'its opposite end totheplunger, asecond p'airof rack-bars connected by an interposed idler gearand having lugs, a connection between one of said rack-bars and therack-bar which engages the pinions of the twister-shafts, a secondplunger having a swinging arm adapted toalternately engage the lugs oft'herackk bars, cam-levers for moving said arm, and a pitman connectedto one of the crank-arms ofthe drive-shaft and the second plunger, sub--stantially as specified.

6. In' a machine for building wire fences, the combinationof a frame, arack arranged thereon and carrying wire-spools, tractionwheelssupporting the frame, slides arranged in the frame in rear of thespool-rack and'hav ing bearings, rotary shafts arranged between theslides and adapted for the passage of wires, spool-carriers arranged inthe bearings of the slides and adapted to move therewith in planes onopposite sides of the plane of the shafts; mechanism intermediate of oneof the'traction-wheels and the shafts for rotating saidshafts, andmechanism intermediate of one of the traction-wheels and the slidesformoving;

said slides simultaneously in opposite direc'" tions, the saidmechanisms each having a 10st and canrlevers arranged to be engaged bythe lugs of the rack-bars and adapted to move the pivoted arm of theplunger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

will be rotated While the slides are idle and the slides will be movedWhile the shafts are at rest, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

7. The combination of a device to be moved, rack-bars having lugs, aconnection between one of the said rack-bars and the device to be ROBERTDIAL. moved, a reeiproeatory plunger, an arm piv- Vitnesses: otallyconnected to said plunger and adapted A. K. DOU GLASS, to en gage thelugs of the rack-bars alternately, ELLIOTT DIAL.

motion and being so timed that the shafts

